Calelectric generator



(No Model.) I r E. G. AGHESON. I

' GALBLEGTRIG GENERATOR.

No; 407.763. PatentedJuly 30. 18-89 q vih mooe NiTED STATES ATENT CALELECTRIC GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,763, dated July 30,1889 Original application filed April 16,1889, Serial No. 307,481.Divided and this-application filed June 18,1889. Serial No. 314,686.

(No model.) 7 i T all whom it may concern.-

lie it known that I, ED\VARD G. AcHEsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at .Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful ln'lprovements inCalelectric Generators, of which the following is a specification, thepresent application being a division of another application filed by meApril 16, 1889, Serial No. 307,481.

My invention has for its object the generation of electricity from heat,or the conversion of heat energy directly into electric energy, or theadding of electric energy to a current already exi'stin g andindependently generated; and my invention consists in the apparatus. forcarrying out this object, substantially as hereinafter set forth.

In my patent, No 375,408, dated December 97, 188?,1 describe and claimamcthod of converting heat energy into electric energy, consisting incausing heat-lines to traverse an electric conductor and produce amagnetic whirl cut-ting said heat-lines, and thereby convert the heatenergyinto electric energy, and my present invention may be said to bean improvement upon the broad idea therein set forth and thecarryingforward of that invention by means of other apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown so much of one embodiment ofmy invention as is necessary to a clear understanding of the principlesand operation thereof, and in these drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammaticillustration of one construct-ion that embodies the principles ofgeneration or conversion. Fig, 2 is a plan view showing one form ofapparatus which I have found convenient to use. Fig. 3 is across-section of Fig. 2 through the line a: 0:, and Fig. 4 is a similarcross-section of Fig. 2 through the line 5 z.

My present invention is based, primarily, upon the discovery that if thetwo elements forming a thermo-couple be so situated as to be within theinfluence of lines of magnetic force, while at the same timeheat-currents are traversing them, there will be a conversion of theheat-currents, or a portion thereof, as a result of the presence of thelines of magnetic force, and a current of electricity will be producedof a value greater than that due thermocouple.

to the ordinary thermo-current or the sum of that current and anycurrent rcsultingfrom induction.

Referring to the diagram illustrated in Fig. 1, D is analternating-current dynamo or other similar suitable source ofelectricity. 1 represents a transformer, and ('3 the circuit closing theterminals of the transformer, a portion of which circuit is parallelwithand adjacent to the two elements A B, forming a Arranged in properrelation to this couple is a source of heat L, as a lamp or othersuitable means, and in the circuitof the couple is a translating deviceG, which may be of any suitable kind, being represented in the presentinstance asa galvanometer. p

I find that if the source of heat L is removed and an alternatingcurrent is caused to pass through the circuit C C by means of thegenerator Dv and transformer T, the translatingdevice in the circuit ofthe thermocouple will show that a current or currents of a certaindefinite value are circulating in said circuit composed of the elementsA l; and the conducting-wire. Again, I find that when the generator Dand transformer T are removed electrically and no alternating currentsare used in the circuit C C, upon appreaching the point of junction J ofthe th'crmo elements with a source of heat, as alamp, a current ofanother certain definite value is generated and is indicated upon thetranslating device G. Now, when both of these functions are producedtogether that is,

when the generator D is run and the transformer T is operated andalternating currents are produced thereby in the circuit C C, and theheat is at the same time applied, at the point 01'! junction J of thethermo-conplca much larger amount of energy is exhibited in thetranslating device G and circulates thron gh the circuit thereof thanwould be produced as the sum of the two former values. This extraenergy, thus demonstrz'ttl-d as being produced bythe conjointoperations, is to be attributed to a conversion of a portion of the heatenergy that was applied at J into electric energy, and the amount olthis con- 100 version Will, to a great exten t,(lepend upon theparticular form and proportion ol the appa 'nected,as is well known.

. as may be desired. 0 C are coils of wire corresponding tothe circuit Cof Fig. 1, through which coils the currents producedby the generator-Dare sent and which are used to magnetize the core M. In the presentinstance these coils C G are shown connected in series, although theymay be otherwise conthis core, and preferably upon opposite sidesthereof, are the elements A B, forming the thermo-cou'ples, and they areplaced so as to embrace the core and have their points of junction Jadjacent to each other within the limits of the core. These couples areshown as connected in series in order to get the strongest efiects', thepositive element of one couple being connected to the negative elementof the next couple.

' The source of heat L is arranged midway betwee n the sets'of couples,so as to direct the heat upon the points of junction of the couples Ihave found it convenient in this construction to makeuse Ofpart-itionsP, of non-heat-absorbingmaterial, to aid in applying and directing theheat-currents to the.

thermoelements. The translating device G is connected in circuit withthe thermoelements. It will be understood that 'in this arrangeni'e'nt,when an alternating or intermitting current is caused to traverse thecoils C J,"therc will be produced reversals or varias in the magnetismof the core M, and this will cause lines of magnetic force to cut theelements A liof the thermo-couples, and

therefore the currents of heat flowing through obtained more pro-Arranged upon them. This cutting producesa conversion of theheat-currents into electric energy, and -this energy is added to orsuperposed upon the energy produced by the other sources of electricenergy, as above stated.

It will be understood that I do not wish to devices shown, as many formsand arrangements may be made use of, and, as will be understood, theconversion of heat energy into electric. energy may be performed at thesame used to change or alter the potential, as in the ordinarytransformers, such a construction as I have shown in Figs. 2, 3,and4being suitable *lor accomplishing both purposes.

couples, as my experience shows that any of the ordinary elements may beused in the gen- 'erator without change in the kind of results.

I do not wish to limit my invention to the use of an outside or primarygenerator, as indicated in the drawings, although to the prcsent timethe best results have been obtamed by such. use.

What I claim is 1. The combination, with an electric conductor throughwhich varying electric currents are. passed, of a thermo-couple arrangedin inductive relation to said conductor and a source of heat for saidcouple, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with an electric conductor, of a core energizedthereby, thermocouples arranged in inductive relation to said core, anda source of heati'or said couples, substantiallyas described.

In testimonywhcreof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

EIDVAHI) G. ACHRSUN. Witnesses:

PETER CARR, M. l". CAssInv.

I have not described any specific thermo- .SC limit myself to thespecific'construction of the time and ,with the same apparatus that is

